All these considerations are much more forcible when the feet differ from an ordinary size and shape. A ready-made article to fit cannot be bought. It is often difficult for even the best mechanic to make work that will fit easily and handsomely upon feet that are flat, and have corns and large joints besides—a combination of difficulties he is frequently called upon to meet. There is the additional fact that many feet can seldom or never be measured twice alike, for all feet vary in size under different conditions, and some of them a great deal; and hence the uncertainty of being fitted by a shoemaker the first time he is employed.[10] But when a last of the right size, length, width, and general shape has been obtained, with all the corns, joints, sore insteps and other peculiarities fairly represented upon it, the owner may expect more comfort for the feet, and a better-looking boot, than has ever been realized for them before. But such a last cannot be made perfectly correct at first, and the customer must not be discouraged at finding a little difficulty. The final satisfaction will repay all the trouble. A pair of lasts for _boots_, if made in the right way, with a good width at the shank (or just above it), while rather narrow at the top, and with a full amount of spring at the toe, can be used for making _shoes_ and _slippers_, in ordinary cases, by filling up the shank with a piece of sole-leather in a way well known to custom shoemakers; although the most perfect results are obtained by having a separate pair designed for slippers and low shoes. Those who have difficult feet had better limit themselves to one pair for all kinds of coverings. There is hence no need of feet being badly fitted because they are badly shaped, if their possessors will act upon the suggestions given. Yet it must not be expected that big joints and flat insteps can be made _handsome_ by any degree of skill; they can be well fitted, but their shape remains visible. A boot or shoe ought to fit easily, yet snugly and smoothly, all over the foot—around the heel and ankle as well as the forward part There is no necessity for pinching the instep or crowding the toes; no occasion for loose leather at the ankle and heel; no propriety in wrinkles over the instep of a flat foot, nor having a slipper loose at the sides. All _boots_ must have wrinkles at the ankle, and all kinds of covering must have some across the foot at the joints. There need not be any of marked size elsewhere, nor should these be as large as they commonly are. A new boot should be put on with care to avoid making them.